Sepultura

Sepultura is a Brazilian metal group from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, formed in 1984 and active since then. The name means “grave” in Portuguese. The band is associated with thrash metal, death metal, groove metal, heavy metal and alternative metal, and it also develops material that draws on hardcore punk, industrial metal, world music and nu metal.

Formation and early line-up

Sepultura forms in 1984 by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera, whose early influences include heavy metal, hard rock and punk bands such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Venom, Celtic Frost, Kreator, Slayer, Megadeth, Exodus and Exciter. The original line-up stabilises around Max on guitar, Igor on drums, vocalist Wagner Lamounier and bassist Paulo Jr. Lamounier leaves in 1985 and later leads Sarcófago, while Max takes over vocals. Jairo Guedz joins on lead guitar before Andreas Kisser replaces him in 1987.

Albums and musical development

The band signs to Cogumelo Records in 1985 and releases the EP Bestial Devastation with Overdose, followed by the first full-length album Morbid Visions in 1986, which includes “Troops of Doom”. Schizophrenia follows in 1987 and moves the group towards a more technical thrash metal sound while retaining death metal elements. Roadrunner Records takes on the band after this period and releases Schizophrenia internationally.

Beneath the Remains appears in 1989 and becomes one of the band’s best-known records. Arise follows in 1991, after the band relocates from Brazil to Phoenix, Arizona and records at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida. The album reaches No. 119 on the Billboard 200 and the single “Dead Embryonic Cells” gains attention. Chaos A.D. arrives in 1993 and broadens the band’s sound with groove metal, industrial and hardcore punk influences. Roots comes out in 1996 and incorporates elements associated with Brazil’s indigenous peoples, along with a slower, down-tuned approach; it also becomes a major influence on the emerging nu metal scene.

Line-up changes and later work

Max Cavalera leaves in 1996 after the death of his stepson Dana Wells and later forms Soulfly. Sepultura continues with Andreas Kisser, Paulo Jr. and drummer Igor Cavalera, before Igor leaves in 2006. Derrick Green, from Cleveland, Ohio, joins as vocalist in 1998 and becomes the band’s frontman. Jean Dolabella later replaces Igor, and Eloy Casagrande later replaces Dolabella. The listed members across the band’s history also include Greyson Nekrutman.

With Green, the band releases Against in 1998, Nation in 2001, Roorback in 2003, the covers EP Revolusongs in 2002, Dante XXI in 2006, A-Lex in 2009, Kairos in 2011, The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart in 2013, Machine Messiah in 2017, Quadra in 2020 and Sepulquarta in 2021. Dante XXI is a concept album based on Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, while A-Lex is based on A Clockwork Orange. Kairos includes cover versions of Ministry’s “Just One Fix” and The Prodigy’s “Firestarter” on some special editions. Sepultura also records live material, including Live in São Paulo and Under a Pale Grey Sky, and releases the documentary Sepultura Endurance.

Collaborations, tours and recognition

Max and Igor Cavalera form Nailbomb with Alex Newport of Fudge Tunnel in 1994, releasing Point Blank. Sepultura also performs “War (Guerra)” for the Red Hot Organization’s AIDS benefit album Silencio=Muerte: Red Hot + Latin. In 2008 the band appears on a Latin Grammy Awards show performance and records a Volkswagen commercial in Brazil featuring a bossa nova arrangement. They also perform with Zé Ramalho at Rock in Rio as “Zépultura”.

The band plays major festivals and tours including Rock in Rio II, Dynamo Open Air, Wacken Open Air, Dubai Desert Rock Festival, Thrashfest Classics, Heavy Music Festival near Folkestone and support tours with bands such as Metallica, Kreator, Testament and others. Sepultura signs with Nuclear Blast Records in 2010, and its labels also include SPV GmbH. The group is widely recognised as a major Brazilian metal band and one of the important thrash metal acts of its era.